Italian tankette Carro Veloce 33 in 1/72 scale
Leva Productions, Canada /Item No. 72-B-08/1 and 72-B-08/
Italian tankette Carro Veloce 33 in 1/72 scale
Leva Productions, Canada /Item No. 72-B-08/1 and 72-B-08/
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This vehicle is known by the terms L3/33, Carro Veloce 33, or CV 33, or the
CV 33 731(i) when used by the Germans. Over 2000 were built in several
variants and were used by a number of Axis partners including Hungary. With
the Italians they served in East and North Africa, Italy and Yugoslavia and
Russia. Very small & nimble they were unfortunately too lightly armored and
under armed to be effective against the allied weapons by 1942.
The kit is molded in a light green and tan, essentially bubblefree, crisp resin. There are two parts to the hull, two one-piece track assemblies, open hatches with depressions for half figures only, separate mufflers, and sandbag "soft armor" for the front. Kit 72-B-08/1 offers a choice of twin 8-mm Italian mg armament, or a 20-mm cannon and machine gun armed version. Rivets and other details are well done. There is a pour plug on the hull bottom to saw off. The tracks are done a bit thick and lacks clear track teeth but I think this is the price to pay for simple and resin tracks, and common. Extra detailing for both L3/33 kits include adding hand tools and spare wheels forward of the mufflers
This kit, new for 2002 is a variant on LEVA's kit 72-B-08 L3/33 flamethrower vehicle that comes with a fuel trailer and flamethrower. The fuel trailer is done very well and this kit has the rear circular engine hatch that 72-B/08/1 mysteriously lacks.
Instructions are graphical only. The models are simple though and no instructions are really necessary with a few good reference photos.
It was simple and quick to complete these models after some cleaning of parts of course. Stephen Brezinski |
